Carrier for shaping dies in extrusion presses



July 9, 1968 w. LINNERZ ETAL CARRIER FOR SHAPING DIES IN EXTRUSION PRESSES I Filed Sept. 8. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTDR WILHELM INNERZ 5Y6) H 4 ATTOR w. LINNERZ ETAL 3,391,565

CARRIER FOR SHAPING DIES IN EXTRUSION PRESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 9, 1968 Filed Sept. 8, 1966 I NV TOR. W/L H81. M INNER? ATTORNE United States Patent 4 Claims. 61. 72-263) My invention relates to extrusion presses for producing shaped bodies such as rods, tubes, or the like, by forcing metal or other suitable material by means of a ram from a container through a shaping die. More particularly my invention relates to carriers for a plurality of such shaping dies which can be alternately placed in working position relative to the press ram or moved away from such working position to be exchanged.

In one known embodiment of such carriers a sliding die holder horizontally displaceable in the direction of its longitudinal axis is provided with two horizontally spaced openings each adapted to receive and to hold one die of which one can be placed into working position in front of the press ram while the other having been shifted to one or the other side of the press can be exchanged. Sometimes said sliding holder contains a third horizontally spaced opening through which, when placed in front of the press ram, frozen-in portions of a metallic or other block can be ejected.

In another embodiment the carrier consists of a double-armed or multi-armed die holder which is rotatably mounted in the press frame on a shaft and carries at the end of each arm one of a plurality of circularly arranged shaping dies of which any one can be placed into working position in front of the press ram and can be rotatably moved to one side of the press to be exchanged.

While in the first known embodiment the sliding die holder moves the die to be exchanged alternately to one or the other side of the press, the rotatable holder of the second named known embodiment has the advantage that the exchange of dies is performed always on the same side of the press; this saves working space as well as working time. However, rotatable die holders cannot be installed in many types of presses because certain machine parts, such as the hydraulic drive for the container, obstruct their rotational movement. Additionally, the arms of said rotatable holders cannot, or at least not easily, be used to cut off extruded material because of unfavorable leverage conditions.

It is an object of my invention to provide a die carrier for extrusion presses which avoids the disadvantages of the above mentioned known die holders while combining their advantages. In accordance with the principles of my invention my new die carrier comprises two components, namely, first, a saddle which is shiftable in horizontal direction transversely to the press from an inner or working position within the press to one side thereof and is provided with a passageway for extruded material, and second, a double-armed holder adapted to receive and to exchangeably hold a die at the end of each arm and so rotatably mounted on said saddle that one or the other die can be placed in operating position to register with said passageway and therefore during the press operation also with the operational end of the press ram. When the saddle is laterally shifted out of its inner or working position to one side of the press into its outer position the holder can be freely rotated and any of the dies can be easily exchanged. The saddle can be provided with a second passageway beyond the operational range of the rotatable die holder in a position to register with the operational end of the press ram and then permit ejection of frozen-in material therethrough. The saddle can be used to cut off extruded material like the sliding holder of the above mentioned known first embodiment.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention 1 provide laterally of the press in the path of the carrier distinct rotary drive means for the revolvable die holder which automatically couple when the saddle is laterally shifted out of its working or inner position within the press into its outer position permitting exchange of dies.

The said and other objects of my invention will be more fully understood from the following specification when read with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross sectional view of an extrusion press taken in the plane defined by line II of FIG. 3 while my new composite die carrier is in its inner or operating position within the press;

FIG. 2 illustrates a similar vertical cross sectional view while said carrier is laterally shifted out of its working position within the press into its outer position wherein the die holder can be turned as shown from its horizontal position into a position permitting exchange of dies;

FIG. 3 shows in a top view the general arrangement of the extrusion press with the laterally thereof located rotating means for the die holder when the same is shifted with the saddle out of the press to one side thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken in the plane defined by line IV1V of FIG. 1 showing substantially only the carrier composed of the shiftable saddle and the die holder rotatably mounted thereupon, and their guiding means within the press.

The same reference numerals indicate the same elements in all figures of the drawing.

The drawing shows the base frame 1, the stationary frame or cross head 2, and the stationary back frame 25 which holds the hydraulic drive 26 for the press ram 27; said front frame and back frame are connected by columns 3. The container 28 for the metal block or other material to be extruded is reciprocable by the hydraulically operated pistons 4 in the direction of the press axis X-X between its operating position shown in FIG. 3 and its receiving position for cooperation with the charging means 29 which deliver material to be extruded.

As indicated before, my new die carrier comprises two components, namely, a saddle 5 and a die holder 16 in the shape of a two-armed lever which is rotatably mounted upon said saddle by means of shaft 15 turning in bearing 14 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Both carrier components are in conforming horizontal position reciprocably shiftable outwardly from the press to one side thereof between common guide rails 6 and 7. The saddle 5 is provided on its forward outgoing end with a lug 8 screwed to piston 9 of a hydraulic cylinder 10 which effects said reciprocating movement; the same is limited by a stop shoulder 11 arranged on the other end of the saddle. FIG. 1 shows the saddle 5 with the holder 16 in their inner or working position within the press during the press operation and FIGS. 2 and 3 show the same parts in their laterally shifted outer position when the holder 16 is beyond the press free to be turned for exchange of dies.

The saddle 5 is provided with a main or extrusion opening 12 and possibly with an auxiliary or ejection opening 13, each wide enough to let extruded or ejected material freely pass therethrough. The opening 12 in the working position of the carrier shown in FIG. 1 is aligned with the operational end of the press ram 27 and with one of the not shown shaping dies removably held in recesses 17 at the end of each arm of holder 16. In the position of the saddle 5 shown in FIG. 2 the opening 13 is aligned with'the press ram 27 to permit ejection of frozen-in material therethrough.

The holder 16 is so rotatably mounted on the saddle 5 and the length of its arms is so dimensioned that the not shown die resting in the recesses 17 can be brought into registering position with the main opening 12 of the saddle and thus during the operation of the press with the operational end of the press ram 27.

When the saddle 5 is laterally shifted into its outer position shown in FIG. 2 the holder 16 has left the guide means 6 and 7 and being out of the range of the columns 3 and pistons 4 can be turned with its shaft 15 in the bearing 14. This turning movement is effected by hydraulic drive means comprising a cylinder 18 articulately resting upon the base frame 1 and a piston terminating in a rack 20 which engages a pinion 21. The shaft 22 of this pinion carries a coupling member such as bar 23 revolvable with said shaft, said bar in horizontal position (FIG. 1) being in line with a groove 24 arranged in the end face of the shaft 15 (FIG. 4). When the saddle 5 approaches its outer position the bar 23 enters the groove 24 and when this outer position is reached the axis of shaft 15 coincides with the axis of shaft 22 so that the bar 23 operated by said hydraulic drive means 18 can turn the die holder 16 into its vertical position shown in FIG. 2 in which position shaping dies can be exchanged. Thereafter the die holder 16 is returned into its horizontal position and with the saddle 5 shifted back into working position within the press as shown in FIG. 1.

Frozen-in material can be ejected through the main opening 12 of the saddle 5 and one of the registering recesses 17 provided the die held therein has been first removed. However, this is not necessary if as shown the saddle 5 is provided with a separate ejection opening 13. As indicated above the saddle 5 can be used like the sliding holder of the described known first embodiment to cut off extruded material.

While one specific embodiment of my invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of my invention, it will be understood that the same may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles and without avoiding the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A carrier for shaping dies in an extrusion press including a press ram and actuating means therefor, said carrier comprising (a) a rotatable die holder including two arms in straight end relation, each arm adapted at its outer end to receive and to exchangeably hold one shaping die,

(b) a saddle supporting said die holder rotatably about an axis parallel to the axis of the press ram in the space between the die holder and the operating end face of said press rain and shiftable in horizontal direction transversely of the press to one side thereof to move the holder between a working position within the press, wherein said arms are in secured horizontal position and one of the dies is placed to register with the operating end face of the press ram, and an outer position on one side of the press wherein the holder is freely rotatable and dies can be exchanged, and

(e) guide means within the press for the saddle and the holder, said guide means releasing the holder for its rotational movement before it reaches its said outer position.

2. A carrier for shaping dies according to claim 1 including a longitudinal saddle extending transversely of the press; an extrusion opening in the saddle located to register in the working position thereof with the operational end face of the press ram to let extruded material freely pass therethrough in the direction of the axis of the ram; and a holder so fulcrumed to the saddle and its arms longitudinally so dimensioned that any of the dies held by the arms can be placed to register with said extrusion opening and thus during the press operation also with the end face of the ram.

3. A carrier for shaping dies according to claim 2 including a second opening in the saddle beyond the rotational range of said arms in a position to register with the operational end face of the press ram when the holder is in its outer position laterally of the press, said second opening being wide enough to let frozen-in material be ejected therethrough.

4. A carrier for shaping dies according to claim 1 comprising rotary drive means for the die holder located in the path thereof laterally of the press, and coupling means in said drive means automatically engaging the die holder when the same reaches its outer position beyond the press.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,880,867 4/1959 Keck 72263 2,963,151 12/ 1960 Kent 72263 3,124,250 3/1964 Krause 72263 3,127,014 3/1964 Dohrn 72263 3,139,183 6/1964 Elkan 72263 3,141,551 7/1964 Samuel 72263 3,175,384 3/1965 Groos 72263 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,152,084 8/1963 Germany.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

K. C. DECKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER FOR SHAPING DIES IN AN EXTRUSION PRESS INCLUDING A PRESS RAM AND ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR, SAID CARRIER COMPRISING (A) A ROTATABLE DIE HOLDER INCLUDING TWO ARMS IN STRAIGHT END RELATION, EACH ARM ADAPTED AT ITS OUTER END TO RECEIVE AND TO EXCHANGEABLY HOLD ONE SHAPING DIE, (B) A SADDLE SUPPORTING SAID DIE HOLDER ROTATABLY ABOUT AN AIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE PRESS RAM IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DIE HOLDER AND THE OPERATING END FACE OF SAID PRESS RAM AND SHIFTABLE IN HORIZONTAL DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF THE PRESS TO ONE SIDE THEREOF TO MOVE THE HOLDER BETWEEN A WORKING POSITION WITHIN THE PRESS, WHEREIN SAID ARMS ARE IN SECURED HORIZONTAL POSITION AND ONE OF THE DIES IS PLACED TO REGISTER WITH THE OPERATING END FACE OF THE PRESS RAM, AND AN OUTER POSITION ON ONE SIDE OF THE PRESS WHEREIN THE HOLDER IS FREELY ROTATABLE AND DIES CAN BE EXCHANGED, AND (C) GUIDE MEANS WITHIN THE PRESS FOR THE SADDLE AND THE HOLDER, SAID GUIDE MEANS RELEASING THE HOLDER FOR ITS ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT BEFORE IT REACHES ITS SAID OUTER POSITION. 